Plutarch’s Life of Themistocles

Peitho in the Service of City and Self

Agenda

• Oral Report (conclusion)• Natham, Christina, Orin

• Recap and Update• The Road to Democracy…

• Themistocles Son of Neocles• Biographical Overview

• Themistocles for President!• A Good Idea?

Oral Report (conclusion)

Natham, Christina, Orin

Recap and Update

The Road to Democracy…

Historical Sketch

Greece

• ca. 1200 BCE– Trojan War

• ca. 800– Emerging poleis

Athens

• ca. 620– Draco’s law code

• 594/3– Solon’s reforms

• 560-510– Peisistratean tyranny

• 507– Cleisthenic reforms

9-Oct Readings: Issues

• Justice and the state– Stasis, eunomia– monarkhia, isonomia

• Constitutional concerns– Democracy– Oligarchy– Tyranny

• Questions of peitho– Monarchy– Charismatic

democracy

Athenian Democracy ca. 485

dēmos

10 stratēgoi

boulē 500

diskastēria

9 archons

“The polis . . .

. . . of the Athenians”

Areopagus…

Themistocles Son of Neocles

Biographical Overview

Biographical, Historical Info

• ca. 528. Birth• 493/2. Archon• 490-479. Persian Wars• 482. Aristides ostracized• 480. Themistocles Strategos

• ca. 472. T’s ostracism, condemnation• 462. Death in exile

“It is said, in fact, that Themistocles was quite carried away by his yearning for

fame and that his ambition to play a part in great events had become a passion with

him.” (Plutarch Themistocles pp. 79-80 Penguin)

legetai gar houtō paraphoros pros doxan einai kai praxeōn megalōn hupo philotimias erastēs.

Themistocles for President!

A Good Idea?

Your Comments. . .

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